MAX RAABE & PALAST ORCHESTER Embark on 2012 U.S. Tour in Support of New Release, One Cannot Kiss Alone, with Philadelphia Performance, March 2

FEBRUARY 7, 2012

“The Band is swinging, the mood devil-may-care…exquisitely polished and versatile.”—NPR, All Things Considered

“As virtuosic as they are elegant.”—Wall Street Journal

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester embark on a 2012 U.S. tour in support of their new album, One Cannot Kiss Alone (Feb. 21 release date) with a Philadelphia performance scheduled on March 2, 2012 at 8 p.m. at the Merriam Theater. With the looks of Fred Astaire and the deadpan humor of Christopher Walken, the dapper Max Raabe performs sophisticated cabaret hits of 1920s and 1930s Berlin with the 12-piece Orchester, including new works from One Cannot Kiss Alone.

Germany’s “impeccably tuxedoed,” “wry, unsmiling, and nonchalantly charismatic” star (New York Times) has performed at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to Marilyn Manson’s wedding, musically falling between vintage and vamp, cabaret and camp, Irving Berlin and Berlin-Mitte. The 2012 U.S. Tour kicks off in Irvine, Calif. on February 22 and concludes in Cleveland, Ohio on March 11.

One Cannot Kiss Alone is comprised of twelve tales of modern love told through a vintage lens—plus five of those happy-melancholic Raabe originals re-recorded as bonus tracks, for the first time in English. From the unsentimental and sensually swinging title-track to the tongue-in-cheek polka “Doctor, Doctor,” Raabe’s subjects range from the erotic to the sublime, all executed with discrete orchestral arrangements and impeccable vaudeville timing. To preview the German version of One Cannot Kiss Alone video, click here.

“To find an audience for music that is 80 years old is still a miracle to me. It’s the greatest gift I can get, to bring this music to the stage—the music I love—and see that other people love it, too.” – Max Raabe on the Palast Orchester’s style

Tickets for Max Raabe & Palast Orchester are available at $25 to $45, and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center Box Office located on Broad and Spruce streets, Philadelphia, Pa. (open daily from 10am to 6pm, later on performance evenings).

Although seven years of study at BerlinUniversity of the Arts qualified him as a certified baritone, Max Raabe is known worldwide as a solo artist, actor of stage and screen, and leader of the Palast Orchester. Most recently, he penned all 12 songs on the Palast Orchester’s newest album, One Cannot Kiss Alone, in collaboration with Annette Humpe, one of Germany’s top producers. Raabe’s live performances incorporate storytelling, music and humor. Sporting slicked back hair and his signature tuxedo, Raabe’s ease and class onstage marks the persona of a true showman.

Along with several fellow students, Raabe founded the Palast Orchester in 1986 with the intent of reviving the nostalgic sound and ambiance of the Golden Twenties. The group rehearsed for nearly a year before their first public performance at the Berlin Theater Ball of 1987, where they captured the hearts of guests even from their setup in the corner of the entrance to the ballroom. Today their repertoire includes more than 400 songs from Berlin's Weimar-era cabaret scene of the 20s and early 30s. The orchestra also performs cabaret-style covers of artists such as Prince, Queen and Britney Spears, and original songs written by Raabe such as ”Mein Bruder macht beim Tonfilm die Geräusche (My Brother Makes The Noises For The Talkies)” and "Klonen kann sich lohnen" (It's Worth Your While to Clone In Style).” A selection of their discography includes Die Männer sind schon die Liebe wert (1987), Mein kleiner grüner Kaktus (1992), Music, Maestro, Please (1996), Krokodile und andere Hausfreunde (2000), and Komm, lass uns einen kleinen Rumba tanzen (2006).

Twenty-five years after their formation, the Palast Orchester continues to charm audiences across the globe. An enthusiastic reception from American audiences on their first stateside appearance in 2004 prompted returns for a 2005 Carnegie Hall engagement and several tours since. The ensemble made their highly acclaimed London debut in December 2011, and will perform at England’s prestigious Twinwood Festival in August 2012.

Kimmel Center, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the MerckArtsEducationCenter. Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and the University of the Arts Merriam Theater. Kimmel Center, Inc.’s mission is to operate a world class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience which includes providing arts in education, community outreach and a rich diversity of programming. The 2011/2012 season is sponsored by Citi. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.